United States Football League
(1983 - 1985)
The USFL began play in 1983 as a summer football league with 12 teams in major American cities. Despite substantial talent on its teams' rosters and decent attendance figures and television ratings, the league decided to switch to a fall schedule for the 1986 season, pitting itself directly against the NFL for attention, while suing the rival league at the same time for antitrust violations. The fallout from the seasonal switch and the $3 awarded from the NFL in the lawsuit verdict led to the league disbanding shortly before it was to begin its first season of autumnal football in 1986.
ARIZONA OUTLAWS / OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS / ARIZONA WRANGLERS
1983 - 1984 | 1984 | 1985 |
ARIZONA WRANGLERS | OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS | ARIZONA OUTLAWS |
The Arizona Wranglers and Oklahoma Outlaws were merged in 1985 to create the Arizona Outlaws. Both Arizona teams were based in Tempe, while the Oklahoma Outlaws were based in Tulsa.
BALTIMORE STARS / PHILADELPHIA STARS
1983 | 1984 - 1985 |
PHILADELPHIA STARS | PHILADELPHIA STARS ('84)/ BALTIMORE STARS ('85) |
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
1983 - 1985 |
PORTLAND BREAKERS / NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS / BOSTON BREAKERS
1983 - 1985 |
CHICAGO BLITZ
1983 | 1984 |
DENVER GOLD
1983 - 1984 | 1985 |
HOUSTON GAMBLERS
1984 - 1985 |
JACKSONVILLE BULLS
1984 - 1985 |
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS
1983 | 1984 - 1985 |
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS
1984 (first game only?) | 1984 - 1985 |
Helmet stripes appear to be absent in film from the Showboats' inaugural game (February 26, 1984 vs Philadelphia); see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSOcVylFLYY .
NEW JERSEY GENERALS
1983 - 1985 |
OAKLAND INVADERS / MICHIGAN PANTHERS
1983 | 1984 | 1983 - 1985 |
MICHIGAN PANTHERS | MICHIGAN PANTHERS | OAKLAND INVADERS |
The Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders merged in 1985, retaining the Invaders name.
I have received conflicting information about the alleged use of silver helmets by the Michigan Panthers during their first few games (or perhaps only a single game) in 1983. When I began this web site way back in 1999, there were one or two helmet history web sites (which I do not think are around anymore) which indicated that the Panthers initially used silver helmets. Here are some of the comments I have received through the years from visitors to this web site:
ORLANDO RENEGADES / WASHINGTON FEDERALS
1983 | 1984 | 1985 |
WASHINGTON FEDERALS | WASHINGTON FEDERALS | ORLANDO RENEGADES |
PITTSBURGH MAULERS
1984 | 1984 |
SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS
1984 - 1985 |
TAMPA BAY BANDITS
1983 - 1985 |